Disclaimer: I own neither Avatar: The Last Airbender or Fullmetal Alchemist.

Chains rattled, clanging against the stone floor. The man behind the rusted bars raised his head as she came into view. Long blonde hair swept down the sides of his weathered face, becoming tangled in his unkempt beard. Grey threads hung limply among the golden strands. He had been here a long time. Their eyes met.

The man stared, his mouth agape. Moments passed, then he threw his head back and laughed. It was a cold and piercing cacophony. The laugh of someone who could find no other recourse against the absurdities of life.

She snarled at him before the guards moved her from view and further down the passage. The cackling followed her as they continued, echoing off the walls and surrounding her. She felt as if she was about to scream, an effort to drive this incessant noise away, but she stopped herself from emitting anything but a soundless gasp. She still had her Pride.

The laughter from the man subsided, only to be replaced by frenzied shouts.

"He did it! That bastard Prince actually did it!"

####

"Are you certain of this, sage?"

The old man shrank under Ozai's penetrating gaze, nearly taking a step back. "Yes, my prince. The auguries are explicit. We have divined the omens multiple times. I assure you that we would not trouble your highness with anything that we weren't sure was the truth."

The prince cocked his head to the side. "I'm sure that you wouldn't, sage." He drummed his fingers against the arm of the black throne and glanced toward the tiled ceiling. "So, I'm to have another child."

The sage nodded quickly. "To be conceived before the last day of Summer and born towards the end of the following Spring. This child shall be the instrument by which the Fire Nation is to be led to true glory."

"So you have said, sage." Ozai once again fixed his gaze on the sage, causing the old man to tremble slightly. It was well known that the prince did not suffer fools and it was also well known that a large amount of fools seemed to end up before the man. "Tell me, sage, what is this true glory that my potential child is to bring to the Fire Nation?"

"We are uncertain, your highness. The portents did not show us more than what I have told you."

The prince leaned forward, his eyes glinting in the low light that the few candles provided. "It must be dominion over the Earth Kingdom and the Water Tribes. What other form of glory would be worthy enough for the line of Sozin?"

The sage shook his head. "It is not my place to say, your highness."

Ozai nodded , straightening to his full height "Be glad that you understand that, sage. Now, leave me."

The fire sage bowed deeply before rushing from the chamber as if Agni himself was on his tail.

After the old man had exited through the double doors a feminine voice sounded from behind the dais on which Ozai sat. "Must you do that to everyone that comes before you?"

A grin broke across the prince's face as he looked up to the woman that now stood by his side. "Firstly, I don't do it to everyone, just to a select few. Secondly, I enjoy terrorising the peasants."

The woman rolled her eyes. "A fire sage is hardly a peasant, Ozai."

"It's all a matter of perspective, my dear. It's hard to separate them from up here." He leaned forward, squinting as he placed a hand above an eye.

Ursa gave him a light shove. "You're hopeless."

"If you say so, my dear." Ozai leaned against the back of the chair, the grin had vanished from his face. "What do you think about this... prophecy."

The fire princess considered the question for a moment before answering. "I can't say that I'm exactly surprised. I have been thinking on the possibility of us having another child. It's strange though, I was going to talk to you about it this week."

Ozai waved his hand dismissively. "Enough about that. What do you think of this child's supposed destiny? To be the instrument that leads the Fire Nation to true glory. Do you think that means a final victory in this war?"

"I wouldn't know. I've had my hands full with Zuko, so I've been too busy to keep up with the latest in war gossip."

Ozai shook his head. "You coddle the boy. How is he to become a warrior if you keep doting on him?"

Ursa gave a small laugh and placed a hand on Ozai's shoulder. "How is he to become a warrior if his father never teaches him? You spend far too much time at these war meetings."

Ozai ignored her observation, continuing with his line of thought. "If this prophecy is correct, then our branch of this family will be spending much more time at such functions." He paused, unsure of what to say next. "Do you want to-"

Ursa placed a finger to her husband's lips. "I was going to ask you, remember? This is a happy coincidence." She smiled, bringing her finger down to his chest. "I thought I was going to have to talk you into this."

####

The sage crossed the threshold into the temple where the others were waiting for him. Wall-set lamps illuminated the circular room, revealing a gathering of robed men.

The eldest spoke, "Is it done?"

The newly arrived sage nodded. "The prince has been informed of the prophecy."

One of the gathered sages cleared his throat. "I question the wisdom of this course of action."

The eldest spoke, "Still? We have discussed this."

"Not thoroughly enough, I fear. I am still certain that the child is to be conceived on the last day of Summer and not beforehand."

"We examined the omens at least a dozen times and we all agreed that the child was to be conceived before the last day of Summer."

"I didn't."

"Well, it's a good thing that you are the youngest, Shyu."

The youngest of the assembled sages opened his mouth to speak once again.

The eldest spoke with an air of finality, "This matter is closed, Shyu. It would be wise of you to consider it so."

The youngest sage sighed, then nodded.

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